Neil Young has said he won’t be performing at Glastonbury 2025 because he feels the festival has become ‘a corporate turn-off.’
The festival will return to Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, in June, but no acts except for Rod Stewart have been confirmed yet. Nile Rodgers & Chic have also confirmed they will be playing.
Young had been rumored as a possible headliner and had initially agreed to perform, but he later decided to cancel. On December 31, he wrote on his website, Neil Young Archives, “The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all time favorite outdoor gigs. We were told that BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot of things in a way we were not interested in.”
He added, “It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being. Thanks for coming to see us the last time!”
Young said he won’t play at Glastonbury on this tour because it feels like it’s not the same as before. He ended by saying, “We will not be playing Glastonbury on this tour because it is a corporate turn-off, and not for me like it used to be. Hope to see you at one of the other venues on the tour.”
Glastonbury has not yet responded to Young’s statement.
Young previously headlined the Pyramid Stage in 2009, after being scheduled to do so 12 years earlier but having to cancel due to injury. His 2009 set included a long version of ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’ and a cover of The Beatles’ ‘A Day In The Life.’
Other names rumored as potential headliners for Glastonbury 2025 include Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Fender, The 1975, Taylor Swift, and Stevie Wonder.
